Plan van de aanval van de Geallieerden in de slag bij Fontenoy, 1745 1745

This is a plan of the Allied attack at the Battle of Fontenoy near Tournai, created in 1745. Though the artist remains anonymous, the print was produced in Amsterdam, and is made from ink on paper. Notice the linear precision used to depict the formations of troops, fortifications, and artillery positions. This wasn’t just about recording space; it was about instrumentalizing knowledge, turning bodies into a resource to be managed, and ultimately consumed, within a theater of war. Look closely and you will see how the meticulous process of engraving transforms the chaos of battle into a legible, ordered spectacle, idealizing the theater of war. It’s a powerful reminder that maps are never neutral; they are tools that can be used to control terrain, and to marshal forces. The print is a potent reminder of the social and political consequences embedded in the act of making.